anon

“ For the future development of our agricultural resources we look with more hope to a land partnership, which, commencing by a valuation of actual improvements already made by the tenant over and above any proved stipulation, and not against the consent of the landlord, which shall in all matters for the time to come bring landlord and tenant into mutual co-operation for the general good. ”

“ Now, mark the rent for which this land had been let by the landlord in 1750.—Five Shillings an acre. Are we to believe that the family of this assignee had themselves so far improved their holding with buildings, fences, and so forth, as to have it made worth twenty-one shillings an acre before they sub-let it, contrary to their stipulation? We scarcely think so. ”

“ That system which leaves it to the unskilled tenant farmer to build, fence, and drain, without the landlord's guidance or assistance must in many parts of this country—in model Ulster as well as poor slighted Connaught—result in a great deal of unprofitable outlay. ”

“ In such cases we reserve our pity rather for the landlord, who, having in the course of 31 years foregone on a farm of say 12 acres an aggregate sum of about £300 of rent, finds himself saddled at the end of that time with a number of ungainly fences—many of them superfluous; some shallow drains which, from having to be "extracted" before new ones can be made are worse than none ”

“ We Irish love the prospect of handing down to our heirs that which was the home of our fathers before us, whether we be high or low; and while holding that wilful neglect or mismanagement deserves to be visited, in any class, with the natural penalties, we here put in a plea in favour of security foe the well deserving. ”

“ The aim of James L when he devised his "Plantation Scheme," was to give encouragement to men who were willing and able to transform the wilderness of Ulster into a garden. Many such men appeared, and thanks to the wisdom of the Monarch, thousands of our northern acres are now rich with fertility. ”

“ It will remain for him, and those who succeed him, to cure the faults of the past—to see that by future stipulations and agreements, which should be made the indispensable condition on which the present tenants and their heirs should enjoy security of tenure, proper houses should be erected if needed, proper fences made, and the land properly drained. ”